Slavery Now
Unimaginable as it seems, slavery and bonded labour still persists in the 21st Century. Although the slave trade was officially banned in the early 1800s, the last 50 years have seen a resurgence of slavery due to changes in the world's economy and societies. Factors such as population growth (especially in the developing world), rapid social and economic change, and corruption have all made their mark. Modern day slavery though, is different.
It is estimated 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders annually, with 80% of victims being female. According to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, human trafficking between countries generates an estimated £6.5 billion in annual revenue. It is closely connected with money laundering, drug trafficking, document forgery and human smuggling.
Buying a slave is cheaper than ever before. In 1850, an average slave in the American South cost the equivalent of £25,000. Today, a slave costs, on average, the equivalent of £60. And, because slaves are so cheap, they are disposable commodities, rather than people.
Leading the fight against modern day slavery is Anti-Slavery International http://www.antislavery.org. Founded in 1839, it is the world’s oldest international human rights organisation and the only charity in the United Kingdom to work exclusively against slavery and related abuses.
Current Facts
- Today, even at a conservative estimate, there are 27,000,000 slaves.
- This is far more than were seized from Africa in four centuries of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
- An average slave in the American South in 1850 cost the equivalent of £25,000.
- Today a slave costs, on average, the equivalent of £60.
Join our fight for freedom campaign - click here to sign the petition and see what we can do together.
